ENOC Chief Executive Officer, senior managers and staff donate blood to support thalassemia patients

Emulating the leader and responding to a call by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to donate blood for thalassemia patients in the country, the chief executive officer of Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), Saeed Abdullah Khoory, other senior managers and several staff members, today, donated blood at Latifa Hospital.

The blood donation drive by ENOC follows the role set by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, who recently donated blood to help meet the shortage of blood for transfusions which are vital for the country’s thalassemia patients, and also said that it is the responsibility of everyone in the community to take part in supporting the blood banks.

Saeed Abdullah Khoory said: “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed has demonstrated the importance of supporting our blood banks through voluntary blood donation. His Highness personally inspires every resident in the UAE, and as an organisation committed to the community and in upholding our social responsibilities we conducted a blood donation drive.

“Over the past several years, ENOC has been undertaking blood donation drives and also supporting thalassemia awareness campaigns. To support our communities is a core duty for all of us at ENOC, and we will continue to organise regular blood donation drives.”

According to reports, there are 450 thalassemia patients in the country, who require regular, and in some cases frequent blood transfusions for survival. Though highly prevalent in the Gulf region, all it takes to prevent this disorder is a simple and inexpensive pre-marital blood test. The high prevalence of this disease means that blood banks in the country are constantly under pressure to meet the transfusion needs of patients.

ENOC has been supporting community health awareness campaigns on thalassemia, and has been hosting the blood donation drives for its staff members with the co-operation of the health authorities. ENOC is at the forefront of support and awareness campaigns on health, safety and the environment. In addition to organising blood donations, ENOC has in the past extended its help in highlighting prevention and management of health problems like obesity and heart diseases. The company has also been supporting autism awareness campaigns.